Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town (Tatoeba Last Dungeon Mae no Mura no Shounen ga Joban no Machi de Kurasu Youna Monogatari) is a new anime series that just started airing this current Winter 2021 season. While it doesn’t seem to be an isekai, the story is set in a fantasy world similar to that of a JRPG, like many isekai anime tend to do. That means we’re talking dungeons, dragons, witches, magic - all that good stuff!
First thoughts diving into this anime knowing nothing about it - is that Link from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?? I can’t be the only person who sees the similarity in the character designs of Link and this series’ main character, Lloyd. They have the same color hair that’s about the same length, they both wear tunics covered in blue and white, and their names are both one syllable and start with L. lol
Off to save Princess Zelda! Just kidding!
Lloyd comes off as pretty vanilla in the first episode. He’s a very polite kid who doesn’t have much confidence in his own strength. The twist is that he’s apparently monstrously strong compared to the denizens of the royal capital! The reason being? He’s actually from a village near the “last dungeon” and makes his way to the “starter town.” Gamers are quite familiar with these terms. When you start an RPG, you typically get to roam around a starter town where the enemies are the lowest level. As you progress in a game, your character’s stats get stronger, so that you can handle beating enemies in the last dungeon, which are the most powerful ones in the game.
I like OP characters in fantasy anime like Overlord and TenSura, so overall I’m cool with Lloyd. Even if he’s a little too sweet for my taste. I found a couple other characters that were introduced to be fun as well. There’s Marie Azama, who looks and sounds like a powerful witch from the get-go, but is constantly freaked out and astonished by Lloyd’s abilities. She’s actually the apprentice of Alka, a powerful loli-looking sorceress from the last dungeon village that dotes on Lloyd. Alka is another welcoming source of comic-relief in the anime. In the first episode, she uses teleportation magic like it was nothing. Proving anything goes in this anime and we won’t have to progress in the story to see high-level techniques.
And things get harem-y pretty quick with the introduction of Selen, a royal capital girl Lloyd happens to save when they first meet. Lloyd’s magic handkerchief removes a cursed belt that had been stuck on her head for ages. So yeah, she swoons for her savior right quick! And she’s already obsessively protective about any girls who try to spend time with Lloyd. Could more girls be introduced to this harem situation? Methinks so!
Produced by LIDENFILMS, the quality of the show’s animation is high. Another reason to enjoy this anime. I’m definitely going to keep watching!
